Achieving the Best Value From Good School Design

Jul 6, 2011 6:09 am EDT

On Monday, RIBA President Ruth Reed and RIBA Chief Executive Harry Rich met with UK Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove MP and John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism and Heritage and the cross-Government lead for architecture. One of the key outcomes from the meeting was an agreement to work with the Department of Education and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to consider how to achieve the best value from good school design, particularly in mapping out scenarios for the future delivery of schools.

"This meeting was an important opportunity for our profession to respond to the criticism we have faced," RIBA President Ruth Reed said after the meeting. "It was clear that the Government and the profession share the goal of creating places in which education can flourish. This was a productive meeting; we welcome the opportunity to work with the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to achieve the best outcomes. We have agreed to assist in identifying the constraints to achieving well designed schools including those in procurement and planning. Well designed schools will always be value for money because they deliver optimum conditions for learning which last for decades to come."

"Good design and great architecture will play a big part in the country's recovery, both as a crucial element in the development control system but also as a way of promoting innovation and creativity," commented John Penrose MP. "They can also represent clear value-for-money - successful and sustainable buildings will pass the test of time and do so because high quality architecture was built in from the beginning."